Antonio Grossich
Encyclopedia
Antonio Grossich. He was a surgeon from Fiume, a politician and writer.
Grossich at first studied law in Graz
, but then shifted to medicine in Vienna
, graduating in 1875. At first (1876–1878) he worked as a physician in Kastav
, close to Fiume. Antonio Grossich was mobilised and took part in the Austrian campaign in Bosnia 1877-1878 serving in the Austrian army as Oberarzt. In 1879 he came to Fiume, and in 1884 he went back to Vienna to specialize surgery and obstetrical medicine. There he worked at the First Surgery Clinic of the University of Vienna with Karel Maydl
. He practiced obstetrical medicine under the supervision of Eduard Albert
, who from 1873–1881 was a professor of surgery in Innsbruck
, where he introduced mandatory antiseptic treatment for wounds. In 1886 he became Chief of the Surgery Division at the City Hospital of Fiume. Grossich was among the first to use sterilisation of the operative field and in 1908 Tincture of iodine
was introduced by Grossich as a way for rapid sterilization of the human skin in the surgical field. It was tested on a mass level during the Italo-Turkish War
of 1912. For this reason he was awarded with the Order of the Crown of Italy
, and become a world-known surgeon.
Grossich got involved in the political life of the city, taking an Italian irredentist stance, eventually becoming the head of the Italian National Council of Fiume
in 1918. In 1924 he consigned the Key to the City
to the Italian king Victor Emmanuel III on the day of the official annexation of Fiume to Italy.
Grossich at first studied law in Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
, but then shifted to medicine in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, graduating in 1875. At first (1876–1878) he worked as a physician in Kastav
Kastav
Kastav is a historical town located about 10 km northwest of Rijeka and about 5 km northeast of Opatija in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in Croatia.-Demographics:The total population of Kastav is 10,472 ....
, close to Fiume. Antonio Grossich was mobilised and took part in the Austrian campaign in Bosnia 1877-1878 serving in the Austrian army as Oberarzt. In 1879 he came to Fiume, and in 1884 he went back to Vienna to specialize surgery and obstetrical medicine. There he worked at the First Surgery Clinic of the University of Vienna with Karel Maydl
Karel Maydl
Karel Maydl was a Czech surgeon who was a native of Rokytnice nad Jizerou, Bohemia.In 1876 he received his medical doctorate at Prague, and following graduation was a surgical assistant to Carl Wilhelm Heine . Afterwards he worked with Eduard Albert at the Universities of Innsbruck and Vienna...
. He practiced obstetrical medicine under the supervision of Eduard Albert
Eduard Albert
MUDr. Eduard Albert , was a Czech surgeon, professor and historian.- Life :Eduard Albert was born in Žamberk, Bohemia in the family of clockmaker František Albert and Kateřina Albertová...
, who from 1873–1881 was a professor of surgery in Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
, where he introduced mandatory antiseptic treatment for wounds. In 1886 he became Chief of the Surgery Division at the City Hospital of Fiume. Grossich was among the first to use sterilisation of the operative field and in 1908 Tincture of iodine
Tincture of iodine
Tincture of iodine is a disinfectant, usually 2–7% elemental iodine, along with potassium iodide or sodium iodide, dissolved in a mixture of ethanol and water. As in the case of Lugol's iodine, the role of iodide and water in the solution is to increase the solubility of the elemental iodine, by...
was introduced by Grossich as a way for rapid sterilization of the human skin in the surgical field. It was tested on a mass level during the Italo-Turkish War
Italo-Turkish War
The Italo-Turkish or Turco-Italian War was fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Italy from September 29, 1911 to October 18, 1912.As a result of this conflict, Italy was awarded the Ottoman provinces of Tripolitania, Fezzan, and...
of 1912. For this reason he was awarded with the Order of the Crown of Italy
Order of the Crown of Italy
The Order of the Crown of Italy was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861...
, and become a world-known surgeon.
Grossich got involved in the political life of the city, taking an Italian irredentist stance, eventually becoming the head of the Italian National Council of Fiume
Italian National Council of Fiume
-Creation:On 16 October 1918 Emperor Charles I of Austria, after Foreign Minister Baron István Burián asked for an armistice based on the Fourteen Points on 14 October, and two days later issued a proclamation that radically changed the nature of the Austrian state...
in 1918. In 1924 he consigned the Key to the City
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
to the Italian king Victor Emmanuel III on the day of the official annexation of Fiume to Italy.